Electric railway



(No Model.)

R. M. HUNTER.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY. v No. 385,255. Patented June 26, 1888.

PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 385,055, dated June 26.1 8-

Applicaiion filed February 24, 1&8. Serial No. 265,174. (X0 model.)

following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric railways and vehicles; and it consists in certain improvements fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

My invention has particular reference to the regulation of motors used in propelling vehicles, especiaiiy for railways; and in carrying out my invention I supply the current from any source to the motors and regulate its flow by means of a suitable switch, whiehcouplcs the motors or coils thereof in such a way asto vary their internal resistance. The amount of current-passing through the motors is regulat-ed or controlled by varying the internal resistauce oi the motor-thatisto say, hylcngthening or shortening the length of the wire wound upon the motor and forming the coils thereof. The motor-resistance may he varied in various ways, a few examples being set out hereinafter; and henceldo notlimit myself to any specific arrangementof coils on the motor or motors.

I do not confine myself to any form of overhead conductor or current-collector, as myinvention is applicable to all forms of suspended conductors applied to an electric railway. It is also evident that while practice dictates that there should be two suspended conductorsone for positive and the other for negative current-it is not necessary to my invention that two such cond actors he used, as one will snflice, so far as the broad spirit of my invention is concerned.

it is imnmleriul to my invention what the source of electric power may he, as the motors may be supplied wilhcurrent from overhead conductors, as here shown, or any other type of line-conductors-ibr instance, as set outiu my applications No. 171,625, of 1885, No. 200,400, of 1886, or No. 239,621, of 1887; or the source of electric supply may he batteries, as set out in my application N 267,224, of 1888. The switch may be of anydcsircd construction,

- and the motors may hesupported by the vehicle connected with the axles or drivingshaft in any so itahle manner-as, for instance, as set out in n.y applications above referred to. or No. 215,199, M1886, or bio/271,141, of

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagram illus- 6 trating an elevation of an electric railway using suspended working-conductors. Fig. 21s a diagram of the electrice|rcults,.showing the arrangement of collectors, switclnimotor, and

motor-circuits. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the employment of two series motors. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the same general invention with two motors adapted to he coupled in different ways, and in which the armature may he connected independently of the cells. Fig. 5 is. a diagram of the switch for the circuits shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is adiagram of the form of switch adapted to the other constructions using two or more motors.

A is the generator at the central station, which is provided with a regulator, B, to control the current passing to the positive and negat ve conductmsc C, which are of any shapev and suspended upon poles or otherwise.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 4 wires are used, and in Fig. 3 slotted tubes are shown.

P are the cars,which run upon a railway, R,

a parallel with the suspended conductors C 0.

I) Dare the current-collectors, which may be madein any manner desired. 2 they are shown as separate trolleys, in Fig. 4 as a single trolley, and in Fig. 3 as cylinders or pistons sliding through slotted tubes. From these collectors flexible collecting-conductors E E extend and lead to the castings or brackets e e on the car, preferably the forward end. H are the motors which propel the ears, and they may be connected with the axles in any suitable manner.

G is the controlling-switch, which is preferably located at the forward part of the car,

where theoperator stands and receives the motor-circuits and conductors F F, leading from the brackets c e or the conductors E E. Where one inotor only is used, I mal e the field-magnets with two or more coils, I J, each In Figs. 1 and o i'erring to Fig. 6, the

of which connects with contacts on the switch by circuits h h, and the armature K has its own circuit k also connecting with the switch. The conductors F are practically fixed and lead from the switch to asuitahle position for connectionwith the flexible conductors E.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will'be observed that if the switch G be moved to position I, as shown, then all of the field-coils and armaturec'oil are coupled in series, giving a great resistance. It turned to position 2, then the field-coils are coupled in parallel and in series with the arm'ature,decreasing the total resistance and increasing the power of the field. If moved to the position 3, then all of the hold coils and armature are coupled in parallel with the smallest resistance. -It is evident that this switch might be extended to cut out one field-coil, if so desired. 01' course more than one such motor may be used,with a corresponding change in the switch, the particular form of which is no part of this invention. It will be observed that the full current is in the conductors O C; but only a regulated portion passes over the flexible conductors Ejand fixed conductors F, the amount of which is dependent upon the internal resistance of the motor.

In the case of the two series motors shown.

in Fig. 3 the switch would couple them-in se- 'ries'or multipletovary the resistance or might cut onernotor out of circuit.

In Fig. 4 the two motors are single field-coils, but with separate field-cir- 5 cuits h and armature-circuit k leading to the switch, and in this .case the field-coils can be coupled with the armatures in series; but the field-coils may be coupled in parallel with themselves, as may also the armatures'. Re-

shows the coils of-bo h motors-all in series. Position 2 would couple-the field-coils in parallel and in series with thearmatures,which lat-' Position 3 wouldter would also be in series. 5 couple all of the field-coils and armatures in parallel. It is evident that other combinatinn's might also be made. 1

for-med with osit-ion 1 of the switch From the foregoing specification it will be evident that the various arrangements of-the coils of the motors vary the power, speed, and torque and accomplish a full regulation. The

armature-circuits k may have reversing.

switches L, to reverse the current in them to run backward, and this would.be a separate switch from G, and preferably ihdependently controlled. 7

Any matters set out in this application but not claimed are not dedicated to the public, but form subject-matter of other applications. For instance, the suspended conductors with a. traveling contact con-necting'with the elecvtrically-propelled car is set out in my applications No. 214, 309, of 1886, and No. 239,930, of 1887.

Having now described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1's--- 1. The combination of an electrically-propelled vehicle having two electric motors, a source -of electric supply, and switches vfor coupling up the motors in series or multiple with the source of supply to vary the speed or power of the motors. i

2. The combination of supply-conductors arranged parallel to a railway and adapted to supply positive and negative current, a moving collecting device or contact for each condoctor, an electrically-propelled car or train of cars, two 01'111016 motors on snid'car or train to propel it, circuits including all of the 80 coils of the motors and connecting with the collecting devices by conductors,.and aswitch in said circuits to vary the internal resistance of the motors as a unity by coupling their coils, so as to vary the length of wire of the-coils in 3 circuit, and consequently the resistance.

In testimony of which invention Ihereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

Witnesses: M E. M. Bascxmnsnn, Emws'r Howsnn HUNTER. 

